EP3069620B1 - Dispositif à fumer électronique - Google Patents

Dispositif à fumer électronique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3069620B1
EP3069620B1 EP15159775.4A EP15159775A EP3069620B1 EP 3069620 B1 EP3069620 B1 EP 3069620B1 EP 15159775 A EP15159775 A EP 15159775A EP 3069620 B1 EP3069620 B1 EP 3069620B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating
heating wire
atomizer
wire
wires
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP15159775.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3069620B2 (fr
EP3069620A1 (fr
Inventor
Vaclav Borkovec
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fontem Ventures BV
Original Assignee
Fontem Holdings 1 BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=52692521&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP3069620(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Fontem Holdings 1 BV filed Critical Fontem Holdings 1 BV
Priority to EP15159775.4A priority Critical patent/EP3069620B2/fr
Priority to PL15159775T priority patent/PL3069620T5/pl
Priority to GB1508417.1A priority patent/GB2539176A/en
Priority to US15/070,637 priority patent/US10306926B2/en
Priority to CN201610160541.XA priority patent/CN105982362B/zh
Priority to CN202110190334.XA priority patent/CN113068872A/zh
Publication of EP3069620A1 publication Critical patent/EP3069620A1/fr
Publication of EP3069620B1 publication Critical patent/EP3069620B1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3069620B2 publication Critical patent/EP3069620B2/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M15/00—Inhalators
    • A61M15/06—Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/023—Industrial applications
    • H05B1/0244—Heating of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/0014—Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/40—Heating elements having the shape of rods or tubes
    • H05B3/42—Heating elements having the shape of rods or tubes non-flexible

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to electronic smoking devices and in particular electronic cigarettes.
  • An electronic smoking device such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) typically has a housing accommodating an electric power source (e.g. a single use or rechargeable battery, electrical plug, or other power source), and an electrically operable atomizer.
  • the atomizer vaporizes or atomizes liquid supplied from a reservoir and provides vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol.
  • Control electronics control the activation of the atomizer.
  • an airflow sensor is provided within the electronic smoking device which detects a user puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or an air flow pattern through the device). The airflow sensor indicates or signals the puff to the control electronics to power up the device and generate vapor.
  • a switch is used to power up the e-cigarette to generate a puff of vapour.
  • an atomizer for an electronic smoking device which comprises at least a first heating wire and a second heating wire.
  • the first and second heating wires are wound together to form a common heating coil. Further, the first and second heating wires differ in at least one physical parameter resulting in different thermal properties of the first and second heating wire.
  • Different physical parameters of the first and second heating wires may relate to at least one of the following non exclusive list of physical parameters of the heating wires: material; structure; wire locations or winding axes location within the common heating coil; wire diameter, diameters of a turn of the first and second heating wires; sizes and structures of cross sectional areas, surface profiles, length, and others.
  • an electronic smoking device typically has a housing comprising a cylindrical hollow tube having an end cap 16.
  • the cylindrical hollow tube may be single piece or a multiple piece tube.
  • the cylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two piece structure having a battery portion 12 and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14. Together the battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 form a cylindrical tube which is approximately the same size and shape as a conventional cigarette, typically about 100 mm with a 7.5 mm diameter, although lengths may range from 70 to 150 or 180 mm, and diameters from 5 to 20 mm.
  • the battery portion 12 and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 are typically made of steel or hardwearing plastic and act together with the end cap 16 to provide a housing to contain the components of the e-cigarette 10.
  • the battery portion 12 and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 may be configured to fit together by a friction push fit, a snap fit, or a bayonet attachment, magnetic fit, or screw threads.
  • the end cap 16 is provided at the front end of the battery portion 12.
  • the end cap 16 may be made from translucent plastic or other translucent material to allow an LED 20 positioned near the end cap to emit light through the end cap.
  • the end cap can be made of metal or other materials that do not allow light to pass.
  • An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of the inlet next to the cylindrical hollow tube, anywhere along the length of the cylindrical hollow tube, or at the connection of the battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
  • Figure 1 shows a pair of air inlets 38 provided at the intersection between the battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
  • a battery 18, a light emitting diode (LED) 20, control electronics 22 and optionally an airflow sensor 24 are provided within the cylindrical hollow tube battery portion 12.
  • the battery 18 is electrically connected to the control electronics 22, which are electrically connected to the LED 20 and the airflow sensor 24.
  • the LED 20 is at the front end of the battery portion 12, adjacent to the end cap 16 and the control electronics 22 and airflow sensor 24 are provided in the central cavity at the other end of the battery 18 adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
  • the airflow sensor 24 acts as a puff detector, detecting a user puffing or sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 of the e-cigarette 10.
  • the airflow sensor 24 can be any suitable sensor for detecting changes in airflow or air pressure such a microphone switch including a deformable membrane which is caused to move by variations in air pressure.
  • the sensor may be a Hall element or an electro-mechanical sensor.
  • the control electronics 22 are also connected to an atomizer 26.
  • the atomizer 26 includes a heating coil 28 which is wrapped around a wick 30 extending across a central passage 32 of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
  • the coil 28 may be positioned anywhere in the atomizer 26 and may be transverse or parallel to the liquid reservoir 34.
  • the wick 30 and heating coil 28 do not completely block the central passage 32. Rather an air gap is provided on either side of the heating coil 28 enabling air to flow past the heating coil 28 and the wick 30.
  • the central passage 32 is surrounded by a cylindrical liquid reservoir 34 with the ends of the wick 30 abutting or extending into the liquid reservoir 34.
  • the wick 30 may be a porous material such as a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid reservoir 34 drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick 30 towards the central portion of the wick 30 encircled by the heating coil 28.
  • the liquid reservoir 34 may alternatively include wadding soaked in liquid which encircles the central passage 32 with the ends of the wick 30 abutting the wadding.
  • the liquid reservoir 34 may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick 30 extending into the toroidal cavity.
  • An air inhalation port 36 is provided at the back end of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 remote from the end cap 16.
  • the inhalation port 36 may be formed from the cylindrical hollow tube atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 or maybe formed in an end cap.
  • a user sucks on the e-cigarette 10.
  • This causes air to be drawn into the e-cigarette 10 via one or more air inlets, such as air inlets 38 and to be drawn through the central passage 32 towards the air inhalation port 36.
  • the change in air pressure which arises is detected by the airflow sensor 24 which generates an electrical signal that is passed to the control electronics 22.
  • the control electronics 22 activate the heating coil 28 which causes liquid present in the wick 30 to be vaporized creating an aerosol (which may comprise gaseous and liquid components) within the central passage 32.
  • this aerosol is drawn through the central passage 32 and inhaled by the user.
  • control electronics 22 also activate the LED 20 causing the LED 20 to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap 16 mimicking the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a conventional cigarette.
  • the control electronics 22 also activate the LED 20 causing the LED 20 to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap 16 mimicking the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a conventional cigarette.
  • liquid present in the wick 30 is converted into an aerosol more liquid is drawn into the wick 30 from the liquid reservoir 34 by capillary action and thus is available to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of the heating coil 28.
  • Some e-cigarette are intended to be disposable and the electric power in the battery 18 is intended to be sufficient to vaporize the liquid contained within the liquid reservoir 34 after which the e-cigarette 10 is thrown away.
  • the battery 18 is rechargeable and the liquid reservoir 34 is refillable. In the cases where the liquid reservoir 34 is a toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling the liquid reservoir 34 via a refill port.
  • the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 of the e-cigarette 10 is detachable from the battery portion 12 and a new atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 can be fitted with a new liquid reservoir 34 thereby replenishing the supply of liquid.
  • replacing the liquid reservoir 34 may involve replacement of the heating coil 28 and the wick 30 along with the replacement of the liquid reservoir 34.
  • a replaceable unit comprising the atomizer 26 and the liquid reservoir 34 is called a cartomizer.
  • the new liquid reservoir 34 may be in the form of a cartridge having a central passage 32 through which a user inhales aerosol.
  • aerosol may flow around the exterior of the cartridge 32 to an air inhalation port 36.
  • the LED 20 may be omitted.
  • the airflow sensor 24 may be placed adjacent the end cap 16 rather than in the middle of the e-cigarette.
  • the airflow sensor 24 may be replaced with a switch which enables a user to activate the e-cigarette manually rather than in response to the detection of a change in air flow or air pressure.
  • the atomizer may have a heating coil in a cavity in the interior of a porous body soaked in liquid.
  • aerosol is generated by evaporating the liquid within the porous body either by activation of the coil heating the porous body or alternatively by the heated air passing over or through the porous body.
  • the atomizer may use a piezoelectric atomizer to create an aerosol either in combination or in the absence of a heater.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an atomizer 26 in a first embodiment.
  • Figure 3 shows a cut through the inventive atomizer 26 of Figure 2 in a plane going through a center or winding axis 43, 53 of the first and second heating wires 40, 50.
  • the atomizer 26 as shown in Figure 2 can be incorporated into the e-cigarette 10 of Figure 1 or other e-cigarettes which employ an atomizer 26.
  • An atomizer 26 atomizes or vaporizes the liquid stored in the e-cigarette 10 of Figure 1 .
  • the atomizer 26 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 includes a heating coil 28.
  • the heating coil 28 comprises at least a first heating wire 40 and a second heating wire 50.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50 are wound together to form the common heating coil 28.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50 are parallel to each other.
  • Each of the heating wires 40, 50 which constitute the common heating coil 28 are wound to form a first heating coil 41 and a second heating coil 51, respectively.
  • Each loop of a heating wire 40, 50 is in the following named a turn 42, 52.
  • the first and second heating coils 41, 51 extend from left to right with a horizontal center or winding axis 43, 53.
  • the first heating wire 40 has two end portions 47 (one on the left, shown in Figure 2 ; one on the right, not shown) which are used to electrically contact the first heating wire 40.
  • the second heating wire 50 has two end portions 57 which are used to electrically contact the second heating wire 50.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50 are electrically contacted in parallel.
  • the first and second heating coils 41, 51 extend in the same direction and are staggered along the winding or center axis 43, 53 with respect to each other such that one turn 42 of the first heating wire 40 is neighbored by a turn 52 of the second heating wire 50.
  • the one turn 42 of the first heating wire 40 is neighbored by two turns 52 of the second heating wire 50.
  • the two heating coils 41, 51 are wound together to form a single or common heating coil 28.
  • the first and second heating coils 41, 51 are displaced along the center axis 43, 53 with an offset such that at least one turn 42 of the first heating coil 41 is placed between two turns 52 of the second heating coil 51, vice versa.
  • the center axis 43 of the first heating coil 41 is identical to a center axis 53 of the second heating coil 51.
  • a turn 42 of the first heating wire 40 directly contacts two turns 52 of the second heating wire 50. This allows the heating coil 28 to heat up quickly and to reduce a delay until an aerosol is produced from the liquid.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50, or the first and second heating coils 41, 51 have at least one different physical parameter resulting in different thermal properties of the heating wires 40, 50 and heating coils 41, 51.
  • the diameter 44 of the first heating wire 40 is greater than the diameter 54 of the second heating wire 50.
  • Both heating wires 40, 50 are solid wires with constant cross section 46, 56 and planar outer surfaces. Due to the different physical parameters, here different wire thicknesses, the first and second heating wires 40, 50 heat differently.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50 have different heating profiles or heat transfer characteristics and heat up and cool down at different speeds.
  • Thin wires like the second heating wire 50 heat up and cool down very fast reducing the delay until an aerosol is produced by the atomizer 26 in contact with a liquid of an e-cigarette 10. Also, thin wires generally reach a maximum temperature faster while thick wires take longer to heat up but also retain their heat for longer.
  • the combination of at least two heating wires 40, 50 having different physical parameters provides in comparison with a heating coil consisting of a single heating wire a more complex heat transfer characteristic of an atomizer 26 in an e-cigarette 10 and thus a more complex aerosol generation upon contact with the liquid stored in the e-cigarette 10.
  • the vaping experience may become more multidimensional using the different thermal properties of different heating wires 40, 50 combined into a common heating coil 28. In the state of the art, this has been achieved with staggered power delivery to a single wire, while according to an embodiment such electronics could be omitted or structured less complex resulting in a cheaper and simpler way to achieve a similar goal with improved performance outcomes of the atomizer 26 and consequently the e-cigarette 10.
  • the surface area of the heating coil 28 for liquid contact is greater in comparison with a heating coil 28 formed from a single heating wire. This improves an aerosol generation in an electronic smoking device 10 the inventive atomizer 26 is supplied to.
  • Figure 3 shows the different diameters 44, 54 of the first and second heating wires 40, 50 resulting in different sizes of their cross-sectional areas 46, 56.
  • the first heating wire 40 has a larger diameter 44 and thus a larger cross-sectional area 46 than the second heating wire 50.
  • the thicker first heating wire 40 has a lower resistance and provides more heat than the second heating wire 50.
  • the turns 42 of the first heating wire 40 directly contact the neighboring turns 52 of the second heating wire 50 resulting in a dense heat transfer characteristic of the common heating coil 28.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50 of the first embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3 differ in a single physical parameter, its wire thickness.
  • the heating wires 40, 50 can differ in a physical parameter, like the structure or size of cross-sections, surface profiles, materials etc. Some examples will be described in the following embodiments.
  • the different embodiments can also be combined together such that the heating wires 40, 50 differ in two, three or a larger number of physical parameters leading to a complex heating profile of the common heating coil 28.
  • the heating wires 40, 50 of Figure 2 and Figure 3 may also be formed of a different material.
  • One heating wire 40, 50 may be formed of a metal, one of a ceramic. Or both may be formed of different metals.
  • One heating wire 40, 50 may be formed of a compound material or alloy, the other may be formed of a single material.
  • the group of possible heating wire materials may comprise, for example, nickel, chromium, iron, aluminum, copper and alloys thereof as well as ceramics. Different heating wire materials will lead to different thermal properties and heat characteristic of the different heating coils 41, 51 resulting in a complex heat transfer pattern of the common heating coil 28 formed thereof.
  • Figure 4 is a vertical cut through an atomizer 126 with a common heating coil 128 in a second embodiment.
  • the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 in that the turns 142, 152 of first and second heating coils 141, 151 do not directly contact each other but are spaced apart from each other along the center axis 143, 153 of the heating coils 141, 151.
  • the turns 142 of the first heating wire 140 is neighbored by two turns 152 of the second heating wire 150, vice versa.
  • the turns 142 of the first heating wire 140 and the turns 152 of the second heating wire 150 do not directly contact each other but are spaced apart from each other.
  • first and second heating coils 41, 51 rigid, e.g. by use of a ceramic or metal material. Spacing apart the two heating coils 141, 151 results in a larger wire surface usable for liquid contact, but also results in a less dense heating profile of the common heating coil 128.
  • Figure 5 is a cut through an atomizer 226 with a common heating coil 228 perpendicular to its winding axis in a third embodiment.
  • the view is through the heating coil 228 along its length.
  • the first heating coil 241 and the second heating coil 251 have the same diameter 249, 259 of a turn 242, 252, but their center axes 243, 253 are displaced from each other.
  • the displacement of the heating coils 241, 251 increases the complexity of the heating profiles of the common heating coil 228.
  • the displacement of the heating coils 241, 251 with respect to each other alone does not result in a different thermal property of the first heating coil 241 with respect to the second heating coil 251. In order to have different thermal properties, they have to differ in an additional physical parameter.
  • the first and second heating coils 241, 251 are formed of different materials.
  • a relative displacement of the second heating coil 251 may be limited such that the cross-sections of the turns 242, 252 of the first and second heating coils 241, 251 overlap.
  • the displacement of the center axis 253 of the second heating coil 251 from the center axis of the first heating coil 241 may be lower than a radius of a turn 42 of the first heating coil 241.
  • Figure 6 is a view of an atomizer perpendicular to its winding axis in a fourth embodiment.
  • the heating coils 341, 351 have a common center axis 343, 353, but the diameter of a turn 342 of the first heating coil 341 is larger than the diameter of a turn 352 of the second heating coil 351.
  • its surface profile consists of valleys and peaks resulting in a complexity of a heat profile of the common heating coil 328.
  • the two heating wires 340, 350 of this embodiment may have the same wire thicknesses but due to their different winding diameters 349, 359, the resulting heating coil 328 has a complex shape.
  • the size of the winding diameter 359 of the second heating coil 351 is such that the cross-sections of the heating wires 340, 350 would still overlap in the cut shown in Figure 6 .
  • FIG 7 is a schematic view of an atomizer 426 in a fifth embodiment.
  • the fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in Figure 2 in that the structure of the two heating wires 440, 450 differs.
  • the first heating wire 440 is a twisted ribbon wire formed of a helix of spiral before it is wound to form the heating coil 428 together with second heating wire 450.
  • the first heating wire 440 has a through-hole in its middle extending along its length and has varying cross sections 446 along its length.
  • the second heating wire 450 is a solid wire with a non-varying circular cross-section 456 and a planar surface. Due to their different structure, the first and second heating wires 440, 450 shown in Figure 2 have different surface profiles.
  • the surface profile of the first heating wire 440 before being wound into a heating coil 441 consists of alternating valleys and peaks, whereas the surface profile of the second heating wire 450 is planar.
  • the valleys of the first heating wire 440 increase the wire area usable for liquid contact and therefore improve the aerosol formation, while the solid second heating wire 450 provides more heat since it has a lower resistance than the first heating wire 440.
  • a ribbon heating wire 440 and a round heating wire 450 are not limiting. Any physical shape or structure of the heating wires 440, 450 can be envisaged, e.g. a stranded wire, an oval wire, a wire with a surface structure etc.
  • Figure 8 is a vertical cut through an atomizer 526 in a sixth embodiment.
  • the first and second heating wires 540, 550 have a different length and thus contribute with a different number of turns 542, 552 to the common heating coil 528.
  • the first heating wire 540 contributes with six turns 542 to the common heating coil 528
  • the second heating wire 550 is shorter and contributes only with three turns 552 to the common heating coil 528.
  • Figure 9 shows a vertical cut through an atomizer 626 in a seventh embodiment.
  • a third heating wire 660 is additionally provided, wherein the first, second and third heating wires 640, 650, 660 are wound together to form the heating coil 628.
  • One turn 642 of the first heating wire 640 contacts on one side a turn 652 of a second heating wire 650 and on the other side one turn 662 of the third heating wire 660.
  • the first, second and third heating wires 640, 650, 660 in Figure 9 are formed of different materials. While the first heating wire 640 is formed of a nickel-chromium alloy, the second heating wire 650 is formed of iron-chromium-aluminum alloy and the third heating wire 660 is formed of a nickel-iron alloy.
  • the heating wires 640, 650, 660 Due to their different materials, the heating wires 640, 650, 660 have a different resistivity and therefore heat differently. Apart from their materials, the heating wires 640, 650, 660 do not differ in the embodiment shown. However, the third heating wire 660 could differ from the first and second heating wires 640, 650, respectively, also in any other physical parameter apart of its material.
  • heating wires could be provided to form the common heating coil of the atomizer.
  • at least two of the group of heating wires differ in at least one physical parameter.
  • none of the provided heating wires would have an identical set of physical parameters as any other of the group of heating wires in the common heating coil.
  • Electronic smoking devices may be structured such that the liquid reservoir can be removed from an electronic cigarette together with the atomizer and can be replaced by a new, refilled atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 being called a cartomizer.
  • Fig. 10 shows a cartomizer 700 for an electronic smoking device 10 according to an embodiment.
  • the cartomizer 700 comprises a liquid reservoir 34 as described in the context of Fig. 1 with an atomizer 26 of Fig. 2 .
  • all other embodiments of the atomizer described in the context of this invention may be used as an atomizer in Fig. 10 .
  • the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 can be separated from the battery portion 12 and the cartomizer 700 can be removed and replaced.
  • the first and second heating wires 40, 50, respectively the first and second heating coils 41, 51 of the atomizer 26 have electronic contacts 710, which upon fixation of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 to the battery portion 12 provide electrical contact to the battery 18.
  • the electronic smoking device may be configured differently, for instance with an opening in its housing through which the cartomizer is removable or replaceable.
  • an atomizer for an electronic smoking device comprising at least a first heating wire and a second heating wire.
  • the first and second heating wires differ in at least one physical parameter and are wound together to form a common heating coil. Due to the at least one different physical parameter, the first and second heating wires have different thermal properties and heat differently.
  • the first and second heating wires have different heating profiles or heat transfer characteristics.
  • the first and second heating wires heat up and cool down at different speeds. In one aspect, a greater surface area for liquid contact may be provided.
  • Different physical parameters of the first and second heating wires may relate to at least one of the following features:
  • the first heating wire is wound into a first heating coil
  • the second heating wire is wound into a second heating coil
  • the first and second coils extend in the same direction and are staggered along the winding axis with respect to each other such that one turn of the first heating wire is neighbored by at least one turn, preferably two turns of the second heating wire.
  • the two heating coils are wound together to form a single heating coil.
  • the turns of the two heating coils are displaced along the winding axis with an offset such that one turn of the first heating coil is placed between two turns of the second heating coil, vice versa.
  • the center axis of the first heating coil is parallel to a center axis of the second heating coil.
  • the center axis of the first heating coil is identical to a center axis of the second heating coil. This saves space and increases the heating performance of the heating coil.
  • a turn of the first heating wire directly contacts two turns of the second heating wire. This would allow the heating coil to heat up quickly and to reduce the delay until aerosol is produced.
  • a diameter of the first heating wire is different from the diameter of the second heating wire. This may provide a simple way to achieve different heating profiles.
  • the first heating wire and the second heating wire are made of different materials.
  • a surface profile of the first heating wire is different from a surface profile of the second heating wire.
  • a cross section of a first heating wire varies differently along its length compared to a cross section of the second heating wire.
  • a cross section of a first heating wire may vary along its length wherein the cross section of the second heating wire may be constant.
  • a cross section of a first heating wire 40 may be different from a cross section of the second heating wire.
  • wires having a round cross section are commonly available in various materials and diameters, one or more of the heating wires, or parts of it, may have a non-round cross section, such as a flatter ribbon-like wire.
  • the number of end portions of the heating coil is double the number of heating wires.
  • the first end portion of the first heating wire and the end portion of the second heating wire are coupled together into a first common contact portion and the second end portions of the first and second heating wires are coupled together into a second common contact portion, respectively.
  • a third heating wire is additionally provided, wherein the first, second and third heating wires are wound together to form the heating coil.
  • one turn of the first heating wires contacts on one side one turn of a second heating wire and on the other side one turn of the third heating wire.
  • the third heating wire differs from the first and/or second heating wire in at least one physical parameter, e.g. its material; its cross section; its variation of its cross section along its length; its length; and its surface profile such that the third heating wire has a different thermal property than the first and second heating wires.
  • an electronic smoking device comprising: a housing, a liquid reservoir provided inside the housing, and an atomizer as described above.
  • the invention is not limited to a heating wire with a wick but may be used with any other element for providing the liquid to the heating wire.

Claims (16)

  1. Nébuliseur (26) pour un dispositif de cigarette électronique (10) comprenant au moins un premier fil chauffant (40) et un deuxième fil chauffant (50), où le premier et le deuxième fils chauffants (40, 50) sont enroulés ensemble pour former une bobine chauffante commune (28), et où le premier et le deuxième fils chauffants (40, 50) diffèrent quant à au moins un paramètre physique entraînant des propriétés thermiques différentes pour le premier et le deuxième fils chauffants (40, 50).
  2. Nébuliseur selon la revendication 1, où le premier fil chauffant (40) est enroulé pour former une première bobine chauffante (41), le deuxième fil chauffant (50) est enroulé pour former une deuxième bobine chauffante (51), où la première et la deuxième bobines (41, 51) s'étendent dans la même direction et sont décalées l'une par rapport à l'autre de telle manière qu'une spire (42) du premier fil chauffant (40) est contiguë à au moins une spire (52) du deuxième fil chauffant (50).
  3. Nébuliseur selon la revendication 2, où un axe central (43) de la première bobine chauffante (41) est parallèle à un axe central (53) de la deuxième bobine chauffante (51).
  4. Nébuliseur selon la revendication 2, où un axe central (43) de la première bobine chauffante (41) est identique à un axe central (53) de la deuxième bobine chauffante (51).
  5. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où une spire (42) du premier fil chauffant (40) est en contact direct avec deux spires (52) du deuxième fil chauffant (50).
  6. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le diamètre (44) du premier fil chauffant (40) est différent du diamètre (54) du deuxième fil chauffant (50).
  7. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le premier fil chauffant (40) et le deuxième fil chauffant (50) sont en matériaux différents.
  8. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le profil de surface (445) du premier fil chauffant (440) est différent du profil de surface (455) du deuxième fil chauffant (450).
  9. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où la section transversale (46) d'un premier fil chauffant (40) varie différemment sur sa longueur que la section transversale (56) du deuxième fil chauffant (50).
  10. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, où la section transversale d'un premier fil chauffant (440) varie sur sa longueur, la section transversale du deuxième fil chauffant (450) étant constante.
  11. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où en coupe verticale au travers de la bobine chauffante (28), la section transversale (46) d'un premier fil chauffant (40) est différente de la section transversale (56) du deuxième fil chauffant (50).
  12. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le diamètre (349) d'une spire (342) du premier fil chauffant (340) diffère du diamètre (359) d'une spire (352) du deuxième fil chauffant (350).
  13. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où la longueur du premier fil chauffant (540) diffère de la longueur du deuxième fil chauffant (550).
  14. Nébuliseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où un troisième fil chauffant (660) est prévu en complément, le premier, le deuxième et le troisième fils chauffants (640, 650, 660) étant enroulés ensemble pour former la bobine chauffante (628), et où le troisième fil chauffant (660) diffère du premier et du deuxième fils chauffants (640, 650) quant à au moins un paramètre physique entraînant des propriétés thermiques différentes pour le premier et le deuxième fils chauffants (640, 650).
  15. Cartomiseur (700) pour un dispositif de cigarette électronique (10), comprenant :
    - un réservoir à liquide (34), et
    - un nébuliseur (26) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, prévu pour pulvériser un liquide stocké dans le réservoir à liquide (34).
  16. Dispositif de cigarette électronique (10), comprenant :
    - un boîtier (12, 14) ;
    - un réservoir à liquide (34) prévu à l'intérieur du boîtier (12, 14), et
    - un nébuliseur (26) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 14, prévu pour pulvériser un liquide stocké dans le réservoir à liquide (34).
EP15159775.4A 2015-03-19 2015-03-19 Dispositif à fumer électronique Active EP3069620B2 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

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EP15159775.4A EP3069620B2 (fr) 2015-03-19 2015-03-19 Dispositif à fumer électronique
PL15159775T PL3069620T5 (pl) 2015-03-19 2015-03-19 Elektroniczne urządzenie do palenia
GB1508417.1A GB2539176A (en) 2015-03-19 2015-05-15 Electronic smoking device
US15/070,637 US10306926B2 (en) 2015-03-19 2016-03-15 Electronic smoking device
CN201610160541.XA CN105982362B (zh) 2015-03-19 2016-03-21 电子吸烟装置
CN202110190334.XA CN113068872A (zh) 2015-03-19 2016-03-21 电子吸烟装置

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EP3069620B2 (fr) 2021-02-24
GB201508417D0 (en) 2015-07-01
CN105982362B (zh) 2021-03-09
PL3069620T5 (pl) 2021-06-28
US20160270447A1 (en) 2016-09-22
CN113068872A (zh) 2021-07-06
US10306926B2 (en) 2019-06-04
CN105982362A (zh) 2016-10-05
PL3069620T3 (pl) 2018-03-30
EP3069620A1 (fr) 2016-09-21
GB2539176A (en) 2016-12-14

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